Event Details
African Penguin House
Behind the Scenes Tour
BTS tours offer a sneak peek into the day-to-day workings at your favorite Turtle Back Zoo exhibits. Your ticket includes admission to the zoo, a 30 minute tour of one of our animal facilities, and a meet and greet with the animal keeper. Tour guests do not enter exhibits or touch the animals.
Register Here!
Search for “Behind the Scenes” at “Turtle Back Zoo”.
Please bring your confirmation email to one of the ticket booths in order to enter the zoo.
Summer Behind the Scenes Tours occur at 6 PM. Meet at the Amphitheater next to the Reptile House at 5:45 PM. See the full summer 2023 schedule below.
- Thursday, July 6th @ 6 PM – Amazing Asia
- Thursday, July 13th @ 6 PM – African Penguin House
- Thursday, July 20th @ 6 PM – Amazing Asia
- Thursday, July 27th @ 6 PM – African Penguin House
- Thursday, August 3rd @ 6 PM – Amazing Asia
- Thursday, August 10th @ 6 PM – African Penguin House
- Thursday, August 17th @ 6 PM – Amazing Asia
- Thursday, August 24th @ 6 PM – African Penguin House
- Thursday, August 31st @ 6 PM – Amazing Asia
Register Here!
Search for “Behind the Scenes” at “Turtle Back Zoo”.
Please bring your confirmation email to one of the ticket booths in order to enter the zoo.
Some buildings contains stairs. If you have questions or concerns about accessibility please contact us so that we may better address your needs at 973-731-5800 ext.103 or mhunt@parks.essexcountynj.org.
Your Behind the Scenes ticket gives you Zoo admission before and/or after the tour. Tour attendees should meet Tour Staff 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the tour-specific locations listed above. Tours start promptly at the agreed-upon time; late arrivals may lose part of the tour by being late, or lose the entire tour without refund. Tours will commence regardless of weather, unless cancelled by the Zoo due to unsafe conditions for our Animals, Staff, or Tour Attendees. If we cancel a tour due to weather we will notify you as soon as possible and will reschedule a date and time. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions and for walking the Zoo. Tour and Program guests do not enter the exhibits or touch the animals.
Please bring your confirmation email to one of the ticket booths in order to enter the zoo.
Cancellations or Rescheduling: Cancellations may be made up to 7 days prior to the originally scheduled tour date and time; no refunds will be offered less than 7 days prior to the originally scheduled tour date and time. Cancellations or rescheduling may be made by contacting the Education Department at 973-731-5800 ext.103 or mhunt@parks.essexcountynj.org.